Exploratory Investigation of Early Biomarkers for Chronic Fatigue in Prostate Cancer Patients Following Radiation Therapy.
Li Rebekah Feng, Brian S Wolff, Nada Lukkahatai and 2 others
PMID 27105468WHAT IT FOUND
Prostate cancer patients with higher cytokine levels during radiation were more likely to have severe fatigue a year later.
These markers cannot yet be used to predict or prevent patient fatigue, as the study was too small and exploratory.
Key findings
01Forty-one percent of the 34 participants had high fatigue one year after radiation, defined as a drop of at least 3 points on the fatigue scale.
02Nine specific cytokines measured during treatment correlated with worsening fatigue a year later, but none measured before treatment did.
03Absolute eosinophil counts during treatment were negatively correlated with fatigue scores, suggesting immune cell involvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small, with only 34 participants analyzed. The study did not correct for multiple comparisons, meaning some correlations could have occurred by chance. It is an exploratory study that identifies associations but does not prove that cytokines cause fatigue. Peripheral blood markers may not reflect what is happening in the brain.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding or conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these cytokine correlations as a clinical tool for predicting patient outcomes. The study was exploratory with a small sample size and no multiple-comparison correction, so these findings require validation in larger trials before they can inform practice.